IF YOU'RE STRIVING, YOU'RE THRIVING
By Paige Burns , Hixson-Lied Success Scholar
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College is a long, stressful, and wild journey. There is no doubt that the college experience is full of ups and downs, but college really is what you make of it. Achieving a degree requires an immense amount of dedication and determination. College is overwhelming and thoughts of resigning from the university occur more often than most would think. If you are considering resigning from the university, here are some points to consider.
Resigning from college is a big decision to make. Therefore, one should consider the potential effects resigning from your institution could bring. How would it affect you financially in terms of future income? How would it affect you socially? How is this going to affect your long-term goals? It is critical to consider these things and be sure to talk with UNLV staff members if you are having thoughts of leaving the university.
It is important to remember that you are not alone. Students freely express how stressful college is and how bad they want to drop out and pursue something different. It is not uncommon to have these thoughts. Try to express how you feel to somebody and find some [positive] coping mechanism or a way to handle these thoughts. Stress affects every college student; it just depends how you want to handle that stress.
That being said, it is crucial to be informed about the services available to students in a time like this. If students are feeling unsuccessful in university, there are many resources UNLV offers in order to relieve these feelings.
The Academic Success Center, or ASC, offers many resources to ensure students achieve academic success. The most utilized services include: tutoring offered on the 2nd floor of the Lied Library, Academic Success Coaching, and Supplemental Instruction. These are all great services that can help students become successful when it comes to their academics.
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UNLV Counseling and Psychological Services, or CAPS, is there to help manage your feelings in order to get the most out of your college experience. CAPS provides trained clinicians that are there to help college students work through problems they may face. Students can make an appointment to meet with somebody by calling 702-895-3627. There is also an on-call counselor available during open hours to help cope with stress and mental health issues.
It is important to remember why you started this journey in the first place. What was your end goal? For some, it may be to have a more secure future. For others, maybe to make a change in the world. Whatever your reasoning may be, it is important to look back to the beginning of this journey and remember what you wanted to do from the beginning. The importance of staying in college varies from student to student. It is up to you to determine where you see your future.
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MINUTE-AWAY GETAWAY
By Carly Kidwell, Hixson-Lied Success Scholar
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Tired of city smog and honking cars? Need a break between finals or a long day at the Lied Library? Luckily for members of the Las Vegas community, adventure is at our doorsteps. Just minutes away from the Las Vegas strip there is plenty of open space for a breath of fresh air. Whether you are a Rebel taking a breather from campus life, or a community member looking to get away from the Las Vegas hustle and bustle, Campus Recreational Services has you covered.
Campus Recreational Services’ offers an Outdoor Adventures program, often referred to as OA, to UNLV students and community members alike. The Outdoor Adventures program takes care of the planning so that participants can focus on the adventure. OA plans single and multi-day trips to the most beautiful and action-packed areas of Las Vegas and Southern Nevada. They plan a variety of trips that highlight different activities available in each area.
You can go skiing and snowboarding at Lee Canyon, Black Canyon canoeing on the Colorado River, Canyon Climbing Red Rock National Park, or Whitewater Rafting the Kern River. OA also does day hikes in places like Mount Charleston, Red Rock Canyon, Death Valley, and Lake Mead National Recreation Area. You can even participate in weekend camping trips to the Grand Canyon, Zion National park, and other nearby national parks across Nevada, Utah, California, and Arizona.
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Most of the trips and events held by Outdoor Adventures come with a fee. The fee, however, will cover the cost of your entry into the park, round trip transportation, and meals. Each event has a different fee, and luckily for UNLV students and faculty/staff, Rebels receive a discount. Outdoor Adventures also offers free events and activities, usually offered in the Student Recreation and Wellness Center.
For example, to kick off the new year and the start of a new semester, OA is holding a free event on January 22
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, 2019. The event is a s’mores night at the Student Union Amphitheater where students can enjoy s’mores and learn about what Outdoor Adventures has to offer. If an already planned trip or activity is not your style, you can plan your own and Outdoor Adventures will supply you with the rental equipment you need to have a good time!
There is a large variety of equipment available for single and multi-day rentals, which ranges from water sports, to camping, rock climbing, snow sports, and more. Due to a high volume of rentals daily, to rent equipment one must submit a rental request 72 hours in advance of the desired rental time.
Rental equipment can be picked up and returned during normal business hours. UNLV students and faculty also receive a discount when renting any of the recreational equipment Outdoor Adventures has to offer.
Get out there and explore. To learn more about Outdoor Activities, equipment rentals, prices, and trips offered, visit their
website
or follow @Rebelrec on Instagram.
Happy Camping!
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MARJORIE BARRICK MUSEUM OF ART
By Tearra Camacho, Hixson-Lied Success Scholar
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Art comes in all forms, providing a universal language where one can feel what they are seeing or hearing. Art also allows us to experience all five of our senses, leading to a sense of peacefulness. During stressful times like these, UNLV offers many ways that can help release stress, the Marjorie Barrick Museum of Art being one of them.
The Marjorie Barrick Museum of Art is a free exhibit open for all community members to enjoy. It is located across from the Lied Library and open from Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm and Saturday, 12pm-5pm. The Marjorie Barrick Museum is a very unique exhibit that differs from many other museums. One aspect that sets our museum apart from others is visitors’ ability to touch and interact with certain art and be hands on with them. For example, there is a section called the Vessel: Ceramics of Ancient West Mexico. The purpose of this section is to communicate ideas of power, identity, and belief. Another vessel, called The Footed Vessel, symbolizes the spirits of the recently deceased and the anthropomorphic vessel, which has human characteristics to it. It was commonly used to feast and celebrate.
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At the end of the exhibition, one can gather everything they learned and design their own vessel with chalk. There is also a new exhibition called Jubilation Inflation. This piece was very unique because it allowed visitors to interpret it in many different ways depending on their perception. Art that can have different meaning depending on the person’s perspective is what makes art so wonderful and appreciative.
One of the things that I enjoyed the most was seeing the vibrant colors. I was especially appreciative of the Blue, Yellow, Pink, Orange Audio Wall. My favorite color to listen to was pink, which they referred to as Nire. The sound that came from this piece was initially soothing and would gradually speed up. One would have to be present in order to understand how special this was. All the colors had their own sound; it was possible to feel and hear the color that the artist was trying to portray. The museum called this ability synesthesia. Each inflation had its own colors surrounded by a tv screen. The TV screens were also interactive. Attached to them were headsets, where you could hear different sounds at different volumes. The sound, video, and inflation all came together to provide a special feeling. A feeling that you would not want to miss out on.
If you would like to learn more about the museum and the pieces discussed in this article, please visit their
website
.
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STAYING ACTIVE DURING THE HOLIDAYS
By Katherine Franke, Hixson-Lied Success Scholar
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Holidays are an exciting time of the year. People are able to take a break from school, enjoy time with family, and make personal and academic goals for the upcoming semester. With that being said, maintaining a healthy routine during the holiday break is imperative. While it may seem tempting to sleep in until noon and enjoy time away from school, winter break should be a time for students to be productive so they will be ready to conquer the new semester. One of my personal favorite things to do during the holidays is spend time with family. Family time is really important, especially during the holidays because that is the time of year that allows us more time to spend with them. Furthermore, during this time of year, I normally have family that comes in town, so it's really special and enjoyable to celebrate the quality time together.
Volunteering is also a fun activity to participate in during break. One volunteer activity that I participated in recently was volunteering for Three Square. Part of a healthy routine includes exercising. The gym remains open during the holiday break and there are exercise classes that are available that include Yoga, Zumba, Boxing, and even Tai Chi. If the week is busy and stressful, consider stopping by the gym for a destress session. They are open on Saturday from 8 AM to 10 PM and on Sunday from 10 AM to 10 PM. Another way one can remain productive during the winter break is to study ahead.
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One thing you can do is buy your Spring semester books prior to the start of the semester and read ahead, even if it is skimming, to better prepare for the upcoming semester. Additionally, if there are any entrance exams or graduate exams that are coming up, consider purchasing the books and studying over the break. Holidays are an exciting time of year. This is a time to be productive by getting ahead in school, volunteering, and exercising. Although it is easy to get out of the swing of things, it is very important to be practicing good habits and be productive. However, it is also healthy to take a break sometimes and indulge in treats.
During the break spend time with family, get ahead in school, exercise a little, and most importantly, relax!
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HEY REBELS, HAVE YOU HEARD OF THE WRITING CENTER?
By Ines Rojas, Hixson-Lied Success Scholar
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The Writing Center is a great and free resource for all UNLV students. The Writing Center consults with writers at any level of expertise to help them develop their own strategies for making informed choices. Additionally, the Writing Center also partners with the College of Liberal Arts, and Department of English to offer a series of free workshops to all UNLV students, faculty, and staff in order to better serve rebels.
I recently attended one of these workshops; it was titled “Avoiding Plagiarism”. The workshop was very informative as it defined and outlined the specifics of plagiarism and discussed ways to avoid it at UNLV. My experience at the workshop was a memorable one because it was very informative and had a relaxed feeling to it. More specifically, I did not feel any pressure while asking, answering, or listing to questions that arose. Additionally, the workshop was beneficial to me personally as it gave me a better understanding of what plagiarism is, which I know will assist me in my future writings as an undergraduate at UNLV. Therefore, I am very happy that the UNLV Writing Center hosts workshops like this and that I was able to attend.
These workshops are held at least once a month. You can find more information by visiting UNLV’s Writing Center
website
or by visiting the Writing Center, which is located in the Central Desert Complex at UNLV. They are also available through email at
writingcenter@unlv.edu
or by phone at 702-895-3908.
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THE STUDENTS ORGANIZING DIVERSITY ACTIVITIES (SODA)
By Joshua Joven Deleon, Hixson-Lied Success Scholar
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Students Organizing Diversity Activities, or SODA, is an organization that we have here on campus that is responsible for a variety of events that UNLV hosts. They are a student programming council responsible for the planning and implementation of different programs that recognize cultural, heritage and awareness months.
Specifically, they recognize “Latin@ Heritage, LGBTQ+ Pride, Disability Awareness, Native American Heritage, Interfaith Awareness, Black History, Women's Herstory, Asian & Pacific Islander Heritage, Middle Eastern Heritage, Social Class Exploration, and Racially and Ethnically Mixed Awareness.”
SODA’s purpose is to promote interest in diversity activities. Diversity is such an important aspect not only in our society, but also in our university as a whole. According to the U.S. News & World Report’s annual listing, UNLV is tied for first in the publication’s annual “Best Ethnic Diversity” listing.
This is important because organizations like SODA help bring students together as well as promote awareness and acceptance of diversity within our university.
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Not only is their goal to promote interest, but they also “collaborate with underrepresented students and student organizations,” as well as “provide a forum for the presentation of innovative ideas to benefit the university community.”
With monthly events that center around a topic regarding culture, heritage, and awareness, SODA helps facilitate the initiative to inform and spread the idea of inclusivity and acceptance at UNLV. In their mission statement alone, SODA outlines their desire to “educate UNLV and create a welcoming, inclusive community on campus.”
Their members are also constantly collaborating with different Registered Student Organizations, UNLV departments, as well as UNLV faculty and staff in order to create and plan new ideas for the different celebratory months. In the month of November alone, SODA held a multitude of events for Native American Heritage Month that students were able to attend.
They held events like Take Back the Night which centered around Native and Indigenous victim-survivors of domestic and dating violence. They also held a Native American Talent Showcase Competition that allowed Native American artists from around the valley to compete and showcase their talents from traditional to contemporary performing arts as well as many more events.
Currently there are no events planned for December due to the semester ending, but I encourage you to check in with SODA to see the different events that they hold every month depending on the heritage, culture, or awareness month that they are promoting.
Authors Note: “Women’s Herstory” is how SODA refers to it.
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UNLV LAW FAIR: LAW SCHOOL IS AN OPTION FOR EVERYONE
By Mike Moreno, Hixson-Lied Success Scholar
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As a kid, I dreamed of becoming a lawyer, but as I grew up, I lost all motivation to do so. Even then, I had no clue about law school or even where to get started. However, once I found myself at the UNLV William S. Boyd School of Law, I was instantly absorbed.
The annual UNLV Law Fair took place on November 6th inside the Student Union Ballroom. It consisted of 65 schools from around the country, with the goal of persuading and speaking to potential students. By going around and talking to a number of different representatives from many schools, I quickly grasped the basic requirements of law school admission. Many representatives expressed that they look for well-rounded students, students who not only perform well academically, but also excel in other areas by volunteering or being involved on campus.
A term that was repetitively mentioned during my time at the fair was “LSAT.” The LSAT, or Law School Admission Test, is an entrance exam required for admittance into most law schools. It assesses students’ skills that are pivotal for success in law school. One interesting thing I learned was that there is no required major for law school. Any person with an undergraduate degree can apply for law school. While the admission requirements were more competitive for some schools over others, the same basic requirements were seen among all 65 schools present at this event. The basic requirements consisted of an undergraduate degree, undergraduate transcripts, LSAT test/scores, a personal statement, and a few recommendations.
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After visiting this event, I highly encourage anyone, and I mean anyone, that is interested in law to apply for law school. Talking to the representatives made me quickly realize that law school isn’t just about learning, but it also allows for students to garner a brand new experience that will keep them focused. For more information or questions on UNLV William S. Boyd School of Law, please visit their
website
.
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Interested in becoming a 2019-2020 Hixson-Lied Success Scholar?
Please visit this
website
for more information!
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Ms. Christina M. Hixson graduated from high school in Clarinda, Iowa and moved to Omaha, Nebraska to attend business school. She later went to work for Mr. Ernst F. Lied , a car dealership owner in Omaha and in 1960 she joined Mr. Lied in Las Vegas, Nevada as his assistant. After Mr. Lied’s death in 1980, Ms. Hixson became the sole trustee of the Lied Foundation Trust and turned the Lied Foundation Trust into one of the largest foundations in the state of Nevada at that time. Ms. Hixson has a special understanding of young people who, like her, came from a challenging family background and are willing to work hard.
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Mr. Ernst F. Lied was born in Columbus, Ohio and attended the University of Kansas for two years, where he played on the golf team. He ultimately graduated from the University of Nebraska in 1927. Mr. Lied became a Buick dealer in Omaha, Nebraska and later his dealership was ranked third in the country for the number of cars sold. Mr. Lied established his charitable foundation in 1972, and upon his death in 1980 at age 74 nearly his entire estate funded the Lied Foundation Trust. Lied Foundation Trust has enhanced the capabilities of many schools and enriched the quality of many lives!
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*All photos used are original, can be found on unlv.edu, UNLV social media or have references indicated
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